Vitreal Alterations in Retinitis pigmentosa: Biomicroscopic Appearance and Statistical Evaluation

Abstract

The authors present a biomicroscopic evaluation of vitreal alterations in a large group of patients affected by primary retinitis pigmentosa (RP). 286 RP patients (571 eyes), 153 (305 eyes) males and 133 (266 eyes) females, have been studied; the mean age of this whole group was 37.26 ± 14.93 years (age range: 5–77). Vitreal static and dynamic biomicroscopy was performed on fully dilated pupils by means of a Haag-Streit 900 slit-lamp and high-power positive precorneal lenses (+90 and +78 dpt Volk lenses). Most patients showed floating cottonball-like condensations (26.824%) often associated with fibrillary degeneration (15.88%), while non-pigmentary vitreal particulation was detected in 26.609% of cases and the pigmentary type in 12.017%, respectively. Posterior vitreal detachment was detected alone in only 0.43% of cases while 18.24% of examined eyes showed no vitreal alterations. A high statistical correlation between vitreal aspects and pigmentary grading of the fundus oculi (p = 0.0001), as well as duration of the disease (p = 0.0074), was found; at the same time, no statistical correlation with refractive error was demonstrated (p = 0.47).

Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

“…Such changes might cause macular complications related to the vitreoretinal interface [17,18,19]. The biomicroscopic evaluation can reveal a high frequency of vitreous alterations, including floating cottonball-like condensations, fibrillary degeneration, pigmentary or nonpigmentary vitreal particulation, and posterior vitreous detachment [20]. The evolution of the vitreous abnormalities can lead to the formation of condensed irregular fiber aggregates [19].…”

Cisto vítreo e retinose pigmentária: relato de caso

“…A frequência e gravidade destas alterações não estão correlacionadas com a idade ou sexo do paciente, com a acuidade visual ou vício refracional, nem com o padrão de herança envolvido na RP (4) .…”

“…Apesar de o paciente ter tido o diagnóstico de RP há apenas cinco anos, o quadro clínico era de cegueira legal, campo visual gravemente comprometido e eletrorretinograma não registrável. Outros autores concluíram que as alterações vítreas na RP parecem aumentar com a duração da doença, acompanhando o processo evolutivo da degeneração pigmentária da retina (4) . Assim como os outros tipos de anormalidades vítreas encontradas na RP, os cistos provavelmente são manifestações no corpo vítreo dos mecanismos degenerativos que ocorrem na retina e no EPR.…”

“…Alterações vítreas na RP tem sido relatadas (4) , mas o achado de CV em pacientes com RP é um evento raríssimo, sendo este o primeiro caso no Brasil, ao que se saiba, que descreve esta associação e está entre os poucos relatados na literatura.…”

Slowing the degenerative process, long lasting effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in retinitis pigmentosa

“…Six progressive grades were adopted evaluating the concentric extension of the opacities from the axial area. Cataract surgery was performed at step 6 -Grading of vitreal aspects at slit-lamp biomicroscopy according to our previous study [10] -Fundus examination by indirect binocular ophthalmoscope and slit lamp biomicroscopy to assess central and/or mid-peripheral retinal changes. The aspects of the optic disc and the retinal vessels were particularly evaluated -Visual field examination with Goldmann perimetry with III-4 and I-4 targets moving from nonseeing to seeing areas and vice versa -Conventional perimetry by Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, California, USA) (Humphrey 10-2 program, Goldman III stimuli, Sita Standard strategy on 68 points) evaluating whole mean defect (MD) -Electroretinographic analyses were performed according to ISCEV standards evaluating maximum amplitude (a-b wave) as previously described [11]; until 2000 ERGs were recorded with the Conel BDC instrument (Rome, Italy), then after that time a MetroVision (France) ERG device was used…”